The Bahamas

Why it sticks

1. 1

   Columbus made his first landfall in the Americas in 1492 on a Bahamian island he named San Salvador.

2. 2

   The name probably comes from the Spanish "baja mar", meaning shallow sea, after the turquoise banks around the islands.

3. 3

   The archipelago has about 700 islands. Pigs that swim out to visiting boats on Big Major Cay in the Exumas are a famous attraction.

4. 4

   The aquamarine and gold flag stands for the sea and the sand, and the black triangle for the unity and strength of the people.

• No official car coverage: almost everything is user photospheres around the capital and resort islands.
• Drives on the left, but many cars are US-imported and left-hand drive.
• Very flat low limestone islands with pine scrub and shallow turquoise water. There are no mountains anywhere.